ZitatMOSCOW — Russia on Friday proposed conducting joint airstrikes with the U.S.-led coalition in Syria against an al-Qaeda-linked group and other factions, an escalation in an ongoing strategy by Moscow to seek more coordination with the West and its allies in the Syrian conflict.

Speaking at a gathering of military and political leaders in Moscow, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu suggested that joint airstrikes begin Wednesday against forces that have not signed a fast-unraveling truce in Syria’s civil war.

“We propose . . . a joint action between the Russian air force and the U.S.-led coalition to plan and conduct strikes against the al-Nusra Front, which does not support the cease-fire, as well as against convoys of arms and fighters crossing the Syrian-Turkish border,” Shoigu said, according to a translation of the televised remarks by Russian state media.

His reference was to Jabhat al-Nusra, often described as al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria.